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Fire Department to test new two-man squad unit with ambulance

By Steve Ramirez / sramirez@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
06/18/2013 06:36:13 PM MDT

LAS CRUCES — Remember the old "Emergency" television program during the 1970s, where two Los Angeles firemen responded to an assortment of situations where paramedics or assistance to the public was needed.

Much of that will soon become reality in Las Cruces as the city Fire Department prepares to begin a six-month pilot program of using a squad unit. City Council approval, and acceptance of a used ambulance from American Medical Response (AMR), could come at the council's July 1 meeting.

With that approval, the squad unit program could begin on Aug. 1.

"It has the potential to improve service to the community," Fire Chief Travis Brown said Tuesday. "The concept is very similar to that old "Emergency' program that was on TV.

"But the most significant difference is our squad unit program will be used for transporting patients to the hospital in times when our community's ambulance system is overloaded."

The program is aimed at improving service delivery and better utilizing Fire Department resources by reducing response time to emergency incidents; providing the ability to transport critical patients to the hospital when an ambulance is delayed; and implementing a Fire Department staffing model that better matches resources to demand through the use of peak staffing and smaller units for certain types of emergency calls.

"The squad unit we intend to place in service is an ambulance-size vehicle that will be staffed with two personnel," Brown said.

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The squad unit will be based at Fire Station 2, at Foster Road and Chaparro Street. Brown said Station 2 was chosen because it responds to more calls for service than any other fire crew within the department.

The squad unit will be staffed for 12 hours daily, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Brown already predicts it will be busy.

"That time period accounts for about 64 percent of our calls for service," Brown said.

"This engine company, here at Station 2, is the busiest engine company in the city. That's why it's coming here."

That will increase the number of firefighters assigned to Station 2 from four to six. Lt. Mike Daniels, who commands Station 2, said firefighters at the station will be capable of either working with the engine company or on the squad unit.

"It will help the entire system," Daniels said. "As far as day-to-day operations goes, this should help improve service and response to the community."

Deputy Chief Steve Mims agreed.

"The greatest challenge is providing a better service," Mims said. "This is one way it can be done. It's new to us, it's a new concept. ... But what will change is a better understanding, a better relationship we will have with medical staff who treat many of the patients we send to them."

The new program will be implemented without increasing the Las Cruces Fire Department's budget.

"The equipment isn't going to be much different than we have now," Brown said. "The new equipment will involve learning how to use the gurney and a few other things.

"Otherwise, we have the human resources for these additional responsibilities. We have exceptional personnel.

"But the primary reason for doing this is because it will make an impact and gives us the potential to save lives."

Steve Ramirez can be reached at 575-541-5452. Follow him on Twitter @SteveRamirez6